Swot Analysis For Homelessness

WOOSTER — In years past, when the Wayne County Housing Coalition members set out to conduct the annual Point-in-Time count of homeless people, they complained it always fell on the coldest day of the year.
However, this year’s count, which will be Tuesday night, is expected to come on a day when the high is expected to be in the mid-40s and the overnight low around 37 degrees. The temperatures will be much more milder than the historic average of 32 degrees for the high and 16 degrees for the low on Jan. 24, according to data from Intellicast.com.
The concern in previous years was the frigid temperatures were driving the homeless to seek shelter somewhere, thus skewing the actual count of people who are truly homeless.
The count is required of organizations like the Housing Coalition by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. On one night a year, a count is tallied of homeless people who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing and safe havens on a single night. On odd years, the count also includes those who are unsheltered.

Coalition President Krista Kidney said the count will be from 8 p.m.

Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, and volunteers will conduct the “street count” from 9 p.m.-midnight.
Volunteers are still needed to help with counting those sleeping outdoors. Lisa Johnson, a coalition member and deputy director of the Wayne County Planning Department, has sent emails to city, village and township officials requesting information about where homeless people might be staying.
Kidney told the group she is starting to get the information about where to look for the homeless.
Carol Labuza, of the Viola Startzman Clinic, said she is putting together bags that will include water, some snacks and personal hygiene items to be handed out to each homeless

person.
Cameron Maneese, of the Family and Children First Council, asked whether those who are part of the street count will be offered shelter.
HUD officials are strongly encouraging they be offered shelter for the night, Kidney said. At this point, offering the shelter is not mandatory, she added.
Capt. Madelaine Dwier offered the Salvation Army as a place for them to spend the night, even for those who might not be eligible because of a criminal background or some other reason. They will not be allowed in the dorms, but cots will be provided in the commons area.
Kidney expressed her appreciation for Dwier’s offer.
Reporter Bobby Warren can be reached at 330-287-1639 or [e-mail]. He is @BobbyWarrenTDR on Twitter.